Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection as a helpless child, finding that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support by reason of physical or mental defect after his 18th birthday.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disorder and left-long-finger fracture of the metacarpophalangeal joint with ankylosis due to new evidence received sufficient to reopen the claims, but further examination is needed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal as his character of discharge from service is now under honorable conditions (general), which removes any bar to VA benefits.

The Board dismissed the appeal as moot because the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was fully granted by the AOJ in an August 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's right thumb disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU effective October 1, 2021. The initial rating for the right thumb disability remains unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand, combined with medical literature indicating a potential link between dioxin exposure and BPH, supports the claim. The decision also notes that while there is some risk of developing BPH due to exposure to dioxins, this evidence is sufficient to grant service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for further medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's insomnia disorder and his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for scrotal sebaceous cysts as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for chronic right lower extremity venous insufficiency is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the severity of his condition during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to his incarceration for a felony conviction. The decision found that the Veteran was at fault in creating the debt and that recovery would unfairly enrich him, as well as not defeat the purpose of the benefit.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the right and left great toes, effective September 19, 2022. The Veteran's TDIU is also granted as of March 25, 2011.

The Board has dismissed appeals for increased disability ratings and effective dates, but has remanded the case to consider service connection claims related to angioedema and constipation allegedly caused by VA treatment.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of non-VA emergency medical care provided on October 12, 2011 is denied as the claim was received outside of the 90-day filing period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further evaluation and determination regarding service connection for dental disability, including whether it is related to in-service trauma or disease.

The Veteran's appeal challenging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Debt Management Center's recoupment of overpayment from UTA periods during FY 2016 is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastric ulcer has been reopened, and the Board has remanded both the gastric ulcer and small bowel tumor claims due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a respiratory disorder and gastrointestinal disorder was denied as there is no current disability found, and the pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for authorization and request of private treatment records related to esophageal conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating and a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incorrect characterization of the issue and a need for additional development, including a detailed audit of the number of days in which the Veteran received military drill pay during FY 2009 and how much compensation was recouped. The Veteran disputes both the number of days and the amount of compensation recouped.